Q. Recently the Long Beach City Council hired a firm to rebuild the boardwalk at a cost of $44 million. The city has decided to rebuild using ipe wood as the main material. more

Up at 5:20, on the bike in spin class by 5:45, home by 7. Woke up visiting nephew so he could see the Statue of Liberty. At work by 8:15, in time to get the first emergency call of the day. more

Q. I have to re-roof, and I’m being told to put a vent in the top of my roof instead of an attic vent fan that sticks up. They described it like a slit under the top shingles that is more hidden than the fan cover sticking up above the roof. more

Q. I’m about to apply for permits and rent a store for my church to hold services. We’re a small congregation with not a lot of funds, and we need to make this as simple as possible. more

Q. We’re confused about what to do with our basement slab. Water keeps coming up through it, and we have to do something. more

Q. Several weeks after Hurricane Sandy, I noticed a small sinkhole next to my blacktop driveway. The hole goes under the driveway, and part of the driveway is sinking. more

Q. We’re trying to figure out if we are in a flood zone. We weren’t flooded, nor do we have flood insurance, but the water stopped only a block away. more

Q. My neighbors are getting a “repair permit” but I don’t really care about doing that. I doubt there will ever be a problem if I’m only putting back sheetrock and insulation. more

Q. Where have you been? I imagine you’re busy. more